Roovio

Wish I Stayed Longer

BS
Brooke Smith
10 Days 52 Activities

If I did this trip again, I'd keep the east coast overnight in Fajardo exactly the same. It made the bioluminescent bay tour and the Culebra ferry day so much easier. The one mistake? I underestimated how tiring the west coast day trip to Rincon would be.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

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Land at SJU

Luis Munoz Marin International Airport

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An early flight basically gave me a bonus vacation day. Huge win.

Check in at Condado Vanderbilt Hotel

Condado Vanderbilt Hotel

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Dropped the bags and left immediately. No chance I was wasting daylight in the room.

Breakfast at Cafetería Mallorca

Cafetería Mallorca

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Sweet Mallorca sandwich + strong coffee = perfect first meal in Puerto Rico.

Wander Old San Juan

Viejo San Juan

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I stopped following Google Maps after 10 minutes and had a much better time.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro

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The ocean views were the real highlight. Wear shoes you can walk miles in.

Piña colada at Barrachina

Barrachina

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Yes, it's touristy. Yes, I'd do it again.

Paseo del Morro

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This sunset walk instantly made me understand the obsession with Old San Juan.

Dinner at Princesa Cocina Cultura

Princesa - Cocina Cultura

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Fresh seafood, live music, and the exact atmosphere I hoped my first night would have.

Back to the hotel

Condado Vanderbilt Hotel

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Early bedtime because El Yunque starts before the crowds tomorrow.

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Kasalta Bakery

Kasalta

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Quick breakfast and coffee. Every local told me the same thing: "Get to El Yunque early."

Drive to El Yunque

El Yunque National Forest

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About an hour from Condado. Empty roads and cooler weather made a huge difference.

Mt. Britton Trail

Torre Mount Britton Trailhead

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The tower view erased all complaints from my legs.

Juan Diego Falls

Quebrada Juan Diego

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The water was freezing in the best possible way. Water shoes helped a lot.

Luquillo Kiosks

Kiosko #48

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I treated lunch like a food crawl instead of picking one kiosk.

Luquillo Beach

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First moment of the trip where I completely stopped checking the time.

Dinner at La Estación

La Estación

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Easily one of the best meals of the week.

Laguna Grande bioluminescent kayak tour

Laguna Grande

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The glowing water looked fake until I touched it with the paddle.

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Flamenco Beach

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Now, I moved "Flamenco Beach" where I took beautiful photos and enjoy the beach breeze

Lunch at Dinghy Dock Restaurant

Dinghy Dock Restaurant

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Seafood + frozen drink + ocean view = no notes.

Tamarindo Beach snorkeling

Tamarindo Beach

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I spotted sea turtles within minutes of getting in the water.

Coffee at Blac Flamingo Coffee

Blac Flamingo Coffee

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Needed the caffeine before the return ferry.

Ferry back to Ceiba

Ceiba Ferry Terminal

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Everyone on board looked sunburned and completely satisfied.

Dinner at El Cayo Restaurant

El Cayo Restaurant

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Kept it simple with fresh fish and tostones.

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Panadería España

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Pastry, coffee, and an early start towards the southern

Plaza Las Delicias

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Ponce feels completely different from San Juan.

Parque de Bombas

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Even non-museum people should make this stop.

Lunch at Lola Eclectic Cuisine

Lola Eclectic Cuisine

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One of my top three meals of the entire trip.

Hacienda Buena Vista

Hacienda Buena Vista - Para la Naturaleza

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I left with a whole new appreciation for Puerto Rican coffee.

La Guancha Boardwalk

La Guancha

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Pelicans, sea breeze, and another ridiculous sunset.

Melao Coffee Shop

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Ended the day with one last coffee before reached to hotel

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Breakfast at Café 413

Café 413

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Big breakfast before the long west coast ride.

Explore downtown Rincón

Rincón

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Surf-town energy is real here.

Lunch at The Beach House

The Beach House Rincón

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Mahi-mahi tacos with an oceanfront table. I could've stayed for hours.

Domes Beach

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Great even if you never touch a surfboard.

Punta Higüero Lighthouse

Faro Punta Higueras

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I actually spotted whales offshore for a few minutes.

Sunset at Steps Beach

Steps Beach - Reserva Marina Tres Palmas

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This was the sunset of the trip. The whole beach went quiet.

Dinner at Estela Restaurant

Estela Restaurant

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Relaxed, fresh, and exactly what I wanted after a long day.

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Hacienda San Pedro

Hacienda San Pedro Jayuya

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Mountain coffee hits differently.

Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Park

Caguana Ceremonial Indigenous Heritage Center

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Quiet, fascinating, and one of the least crowded places I visited.

Tanamá River lookout

Rio Tanama

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Completely unplanned stop and one of my favorite photos.

Lunch at Restaurante Asao Smokehouse

Asao

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Hidden-gem energy and huge portions.

Coffee at Café Gran Batey

Café Gran Batey

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I sat here much longer than I intended.

Walk around downtown Utuado

Utuado

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Picked up a few handmade souvenirs and chatted with a local shop owner.

Dinner at Casita Miramar

Casita Miramar

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Comfort food was the right call.

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Breakfast at Café Cuatro Sombras

Café Cuatro Sombras

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Took my time because I wasn't ready to leave.

Souvenir shopping

The Mall of San Jaun

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Coffee, handmade crafts, and the gifts I would've regretted skipping.

Castillo San Cristóbal

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Perfect final fortress and an excellent last view over the city.

Lunch at Deaverdura

Deaverdura

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My final Puerto Rican meal had to include arroz con gandules and roast pork.

Paseo de la Princesa

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No agenda, just one last slow walk.

Final piña colada at Barrachina

Barrachina

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Felt like the right closing ritual.

Arrive at the airport

Luis Munoz Marin International Airport

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Spent the wait scrolling through hundreds of photos.

Fly home

Luis Munoz Marin International Airport

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Seven days were enough to fall in love with Puerto Rico, but definitely not enough to feel finished with it.

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